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Bonus points will be awarded for the first time in the history of the tournament.

A team scoring four tries will get a bonus point, as will a losing team who get within seven points of the winners - with a special three-point bonus for a team winning all five of their matches.

New rules on high tackles have led to a number of yellow and red cards in domestic rugby and some fear the same could happen in the Six Nations.

Who will win the tournament?

It's too tough to call if you believe Ireland's head coach Joe Schmidt.
"If you asked anyone now to predict a one to six in two months' time I don't think too many people would get it right," said the New Zealander.
"We are aiming to get back into that top two again, but this is the most competitive Six Nations in the four years since I've been here.
"The past year England have been indomitable. To go to Australia and win a series 3-0 is an amazing achievement.
"And Wales are a sleeping giant. I think back to that England v Wales game last season and it was phenomenal.
"Whether Ireland can get to that game unbeaten is the big question. France will be further up this year with Wales and Scotland pushing for third, fourth and fifth place."

The British and Irish Lions travel to New Zealand in the summer and the "home nations" players' performances in the tournament will inevitably influence head coach Warren Gatland's selections.

Not sure what England were complaining about, if a ruck is not formed you can't be offside. Simple.

We got our act together after half time, and won easily in the end.

I knew that tactic would not win it for Italy, it confused us but once you get to grips of it the quality will come through.

As for England's form, yes we have not been great so far in the tournament, but we have now won 16 games in a row and in a very strong positron to win the Grandslam. Can't be flashy all the time, winning is what is important in tournaments.

Not sure what England were complaining about, if a ruck is not formed you can't be offside. Simple.

We got our act together after half time, and won easily in the end.

I knew that tactic would not win it for Italy, it confused us but once you get to grips of it the quality will come through.

As for England's form, yes we have not been great so far in the tournament, but we have now won 16 games in a row and in a very strong positron to win the Grandslam. Can't be flashy all the time, winning is what is important in tournaments.

Additionally the tactic was used to good effect by the Exeter Chiefs in the premiership until they were found out by a tactic of pick up and drive or ensnaring a defender to make Claudio t a ruck.

They also had two members of the chiefs on the bench who may have been able to quickly relayed the method and the counters